The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1887-08-25
WHITE sbAvERyIN CoLoN1ALTImEs,
Nedemptioners or Term Slaves-.Freo-
Willers and Indented Servants.
(From tho New York Post,


MANY persons who consider themselve
familiar with the history of this countr
are not aware that in the last centur'
Whlte mon, women and child ZEN wer
held III bondage; that the colo, iel law
IN 1aVor OF such servitude wer3 as ex
pllclt and severe as were those in SUD
port negro slavery. Such white persons
owing personal service to individual
masters were generally known as "term
slaves" though their legal stains was
er."
Isaac Weld, Jr., in his book of travels
IN America, published in the last cen
tury, asserts that it was the custom of
Shlpmasters at ROTTERDAM and the Hanse
towns to 1nveigle the people on to their
vessels, under promise of free passage to
America. On reaching the colonies an
nouncement of the arrival of mechanics
and laborers would be made, and per-
sons In want Of such would flock to the
shops, and the poor Germans would be
SOLD to the highest bidders, tho captains
pocketing the proceeds.
hedemptloners constituted in the
early part of the eighteenth century q
peculiar feature of colonial anxiety.
Ihey were recruited from among all
manner of people in the old world, and
through this channel Europe emptied
upon America not only the virtuous poor
and oppressed of her population. but
the vagrants, felons and drees Of her
communities. There was thus establish
ed among the settlers society that, in
many. places, was almost imbued with q
moral pestilence. Among the redemp-
TONERS, however, were fair proportion
OF sturdy souls, strong in purpose and
endeavor, who appreciated the great
opportunity created for them by this
complete change of life and country.
AT the expiration of their term of ser
vice many, by thrift and industry, ole
waited themselves to respectable posi-
tons, and were absorbed in the middle
class.
There were two kinds of redemption
s'indented servants" who had
bound themselves to their masters for n
term of years previous to leaving the
old country, "free-willers," who, being
without money and desirous of emigrat
ing, agreed with the captains of ships to
allow themselves or their families to be
sold on arrival for the captains advant-
age, and thus repay costs Of passage and
other expenses. The former-indented
Servants-werc often trapped into their
engagements by corrupt agents Mt home,
who persuaded them all undor false
promises of tender and humane trent
ment, and assurances of remuneratiye
employment at the expiration of service,
which would insure a competent provis-
ION for the remainder Of their DAYS. The
emigrants often discovered on arrival
that the advantages to be obtained in
America had been painted by the agents
IN much too alluring colors. Frequently
their masters forced them to most rigid
labor and exercised On unnecessary
severity.
The free-willers suffered oven worse
treatment at the hands of shipmasters
and agents. They We're led to believe
that on arrival in America their services
would be eagerly solicited by persons
who would gladly pay the costs of their
passages; which being only 60, the
omlgrants would soon be able to repay,
the emigrants would soon be able to
repay, and thus be able to secure their
liberty and all the enjoyment and pros
perlty that the new country offered to
adVenturers. Agreements were entered
INTO whereby these deluded ones bound
themselves, that if, on arrival, they did
not succeed within a certain number of
days IN securing employment on their
own terms, they could be sold for term
OF years to defray the charges for their
passages Alas! the Stree -willers," with
rare exceptions, had q rude awakening
on reaching the colonies. Under their
agreements the captain had legal lien
on the persons Of tho emigrants until
the ship charges were paid: consequent.
ly they were not allowed to 90 on shore.
but were exposed to view on deck to the
people who came on board in search of
servants. Except in cases Of extraordi
nary qualifications, veIy few of them
were happy enough to make their own
stlpulations, and they found themselves
sold for several years of tedious labor
and servitude.
The terms Of conditions of service
differed in the different colonies. Among
tho archives of the Pennsylvania His
torlcal Society are some original bonds,
or agreements, between ship captains
and redemptioners. From them wo
learn that the usual price paid in that
colony for three years service was E24
Is. and Cd. When his time had expired
a man was entitled to receive two suits
of clothes, a grubbing hoe, wedding
hoe and new axe. Children sold for
from E8 to GlO, and their masters were
required to see that they were taught to
read and write, and had at least one
quarters schooling.
In New Jersey-according to "Leam-
ing and Spicor"-no white servant, if
sold or bound after seventeen years of
age, could servo above four years. If
undor that age, they were to be free on
reaching their majority. AT the expira-
tlon of service their master were obliged
to supply them with two good suits of
clothing, suitable for servant, one
good telling axe, one good hoe, and
seven bushels of Indian corn. A servant
was to be Immediately freed i'll case of
beng SO abused by master or mistress as
TO result in tho loss Of an eye or tooth.
The laws against aiding redemptionists
10 escape were very severe. A fine of
70 was imposed for offering assistance
IN such cases, and the alder and abett0r
was obliged to make full satisfaction to
master or mistress for all loss, DAMAGE
OF cost sustained by the absence of or
search for the runaway. Any one who
concealed or entertained an absconding
rGQemDtlOner COuld bo Hnc6 Of tLo A.